The Case Against Paul Raeburn by John Creasey

from Fingerprints.”
    “That is quite unnecessary,” Warrender was taking this very badly.
    “We won’t keep you any longer than we have to,” Roger said, “but we can’t have influential citizens attacked in their homes, can we, Mr Raeburn?”
    “How true,” cooed Ma Beesley, coming in with another cup. “Isn’t it a pity I’m not a better shot?”
    “Apparently. May I see your gun?”
    “The other inspector has it,” said Ma Beesley.
    “Have you a licence?”
    “Of course I have.” Ma was laughing at him openly. “Everything was quite in order, Mr West. I think you will find that the thieves thought the safe was in Mr Raeburn’s room, whereas it is in Mr Warrender’s. We have to expect such outrages, haven’t we? There are so many criminals about, and the police have so much to do.” She gave a wide, toothy smile. “Not that they would have found much had they searched every nook and cranny; we keep nothing of value here.”
    She was saying that the police could turn the flat upside down, and find little which might help to build up a case against Raeburn.
    “I see. Excuse us a moment, will you?” Roger said. He went with Turnbull into the hall, where the man from Fingerprints and another detective had started work. “Anything doing?” he asked.
    “There are scratches at both doors, but I think the front door was opened with a key,” Turnbull answered. “We ought to take the lock down and have a good look at it, to make sure. It could be important.”
    “If they had a key, where did they get it from?” Roger examined the lock of Raeburn’s door, and then glanced into the beautifully furnished bedroom.
    “Just made for two, but only one in it tonight,” Turnbull said.
    “They wore gloves,” the Fingerprint man reported, factually. “There isn’t a trace of a print.”
    “A professional job, all right, and with luck it will help to make Raeburn jumpy,” Roger said. “What have you started doing outside?” he asked Turnbull.
    “I’ve seen the sergeant on duty on the beat, who’s making local inquiries, and I’ve been on to the office. A copper on his beat saw a car leave about half past two; that was probably the one the burglars came in. Think they were after money?” he asked.
    “Don’t much care what they were after. If we play our cards right, and show Raeburn that we’re going to go to a lot of trouble to catch the burglars, we could get Raeburn and Company on one foot. Warrender’s edgy already, and Ma’s too slimy. Has she shown you the licence for the gun?”
    “It’s in order.”
    “It would be,” Roger said. “Right – just worry ‘em!” He turned back to the study, where the trio looked rather as if they had been caught in some prank. “It doesn’t look as if we’re going to get any immediate results, Mr Raeburn,” he said. “I’m going to have the lock taken off the front door, to see whether it was opened by a key or a tool – “
    “There is no need for that,” protested Warrender.
    “We must do our job,” Roger said, flatly. “We shall put the lock back within twelve hours, I promise you. Meantime, we can put you on a temporary fastening. Mrs Beesley, would you recognise either of the men again?”
    “I shouldn’t like to say.”
    “What about you, Mr Warrender?”
    “I hardly saw them; just saw one man’s hands.”
    “Since no harm was done, why make such a business of it?” said Raeburn, and now he wasn’t even pretending to smile.
    Roger beamed. “You can never tell how much harm has been done until you’ve checked everything, and I’d hate the Yard to be accused of being careless, sir. We might get some surprising results before we’ve finished, too. Thieves and burglars are like most criminals: they have a long run of success, get overconfident, and then make one little slip, and we get’em. Just like that!” He snapped his fingers. “There are so many criminals about now, as Mrs Beesley reminded me, we can’t let